Case Number 22636

THE ADVENTURES OF MARK TWAIN (BLU-RAY) (REGION B)

The Charge

Where Dreams Become Reality.

Opening Statement

Now this takes me back. I first saw The Adventures Of Mark Twain upon
its home video release in the UK. At that time it went under the name Comet
Quest, and I still vividly recall its poster being displayed at the local
video store. As I recall, I quite enjoyed the film, but until recently had all
but forgotten it. In fact, it wasn't until I stumbled across a YouTube clip
entitled "very creepy, disturbing children's cartoon, banned from TV"
that I was reminded it even existed. The aforementioned clip, along with
subsequent Google searches suggested that The Adventures Of Mark Twain is
a horrifying, even disturbing experience. Surely this couldn't be right?
Claymation cannot possibly disturb anyone, can it?

Well, thanks to the good people at Eureka, The Adventures Of Mark Twain
(Blu-ray) (Region B) allows those curious about the film to check it out in
glorious high definition.

Facts of the Case

Mark Twain, the famous author, is joined on his mission to track Halley's
Comet by three stowaways: Huckleberry Finn, Tom Sawyer, and Becky Thatcher.
Aboard his airship, the three youngsters are regaled by several of Twain's most
famous stories. As their journey progresses, the children come to understand the
greater meaning of these famous tales, and realize that in looking for the
comet, Twain is in fact looking to meet his maker.

The Evidence

If The Adventures Of Mark Twain doesn't completely come together into
a cohesive whole, it certainly isn't due to a lack of ambition. Combining some
of Mark Twain's most famous works with an adventure that sees our intrepid crew
set course for Halley's Comet, director Will Vinton delivers an intelligent,
thought-provoking, and consistently entertaining picture that, particularly now,
feels like a total one off.

In truth, The Adventures Of Mark Twain is less a children's film, and
more a family movie; the difference being that, due to its content, younger
children are likely to want to ask questions about what they are seeing. Never
more is this true than during a segment based on Twain's story "The
Mysterious Stranger." It is the film's most (in)famous sequence, and not
without reason. While it is certainly darker than most children's entertainment
-- leading to it to being omitted from television broadcasts of the movie -- it
is no doubt a fascinating scene. In it, the children meet an angel who
introduces himself as Satan. After having the children mold figures out of clay,
Satan brings their creations to life and sets about demonstrating his twisted
view of mankind, resulting in the deaths of the clay people. Now, let us for one
minute be adults and put hysteria aside. Is it dark? Yes, undoubtedly.
Disturbing? No, not really. Perhaps its inclusion in a children's feature took
some people by surprise; perhaps modern audiences are simply unfamiliar with how
dark children's films and TV series were "back in the day," but
please, don't let the unwarranted reputation it has garnered over recent times
overshadow the fine achievement of director Will Vinton.

This is not a film frightened of dealing with reality -- despite its
fantastical setting -- and so touches upon the subject of death in a very open
and honest way. While this will no doubt catch some off guard, those looking for
intelligent storytelling will rejoice. Other big questions are asked too, taking
in a range of topics from faith, science, and, most impressively, what it is to
be human. The film frequently goes back to Twain's "The Diary of Adam and
Eve" throughout its runtime, and the changes in tone this story takes best
exemplify the film as a whole. Beginning in a comic fashion, the story develops
into a touching tale of love, as Adam and Eve grow old together. We see how
their initial squabbling subsides into utter devotion, as each comes to realize
how meaningless life is without the other. This segment also neatly hints at
Twain's own life, and his relationship with his wife. Few family films (with
Pixar's Up being a notable exception) have come so close to capturing our
need for companionship to such great effect.

Aesthetically speaking, The Adventures Of Mark Twain holds up
remarkably well. The Claymation technique, trademarked by Vinton in the States,
shows itself to be capable of matching pretty much anything this newfangled CGI
can muster, and is seemingly limited only by the imagination and skill of the
artists working on the film -- both of which are present in abundance.

If I were to find fault with The Adventures Of Mark Twain, it would
be with the tonal shifts that occur throughout the movie. As much by design as
anything else the film moves from rip-roaring adventure to introspective
melodrama within the blink of an eye. Apart from being a little disorienting --
meaning the adventure to find Halley's Comet is delivered in a piecemeal fashion
-- it can render certain sequences a little cold, as the emotion of the pieces
isn't given the time to really take hold.

The Blu-ray release of The Adventures Of Mark Twain features a very
good 1.85:1 1080P transfer. The bright picture is sharp, with excellent levels
of detail allied to vivid colors and deep black levels. There is a fine layer of
grain evident, which never becomes distracting, while damage to the print is
minimal. In short, it looks pretty darn good. The DTS-HD Master Audio track
features clear dialogue, though audio levels are occasionally inconsistent.

The highlight of the extras is undoubtedly Vinton's commentary track. Vinton
provides detailed information on both the technical aspects of the film -- often
explaining how certain shots were achieved -- and an insight into Twain's work,
offering an interpretation of each of the stories (thanks to a great knowledge
of Twain) and the reasons for its inclusion in the movie. "The Music Of
Mark Twain" provides the viewer with the chance to listen to the film's
score independently of the movie, and is broken up by scene. Next up are a
series of "Crew Interviews," which take in everyone from character
designers to animators. Clocking in at 54 minutes, this is no mere fluff piece,
and acts as an excellent companion to Vinton's commentary track. A "Stills
Gallery" is self-explanatory, but noteworthy for its inclusion of
behind-the-scenes shots. "The Story Of Claymation and The Adventures Of
Mark Twain" offers a 16-minute look at the history of Claymation. Though
short, it contains enough information for a good oversight of the genre,
ensuring to note the key milestones. A "Behind The Scenes Featurette"
(6 minutes) is a short look at each element of the film, from character
construction to voice recording. Finally, the film's theatrical trailer is
included.

Closing Statement

The Adventures Of Mark Twain may have flopped at the box office, and
spent the last twenty-five years in cinematic oblivion, but that should not stop
you purchasing this disc. Even putting aside Eureka's fantastic package of extra
features and remarkable transfer, this is a film no fan of animation should be
without.